Beyond the obvious idiocy of this family's treatment, how do you comment on this? Since when has a teacher been given the authority to make a judgement call about a family's well-being based on a four year old's drawing? Even more chilling is how quickly and forcefully her "report' was responded to.

Sorry folks, but the "better safe than sorry" arguement just doesn't cut it with me. Any government official, even a kindergarden teacher, can use that logic to justify anything to themselves and the potential for abuse is unlimited.

This is how you will live under a Nanny-State government; everything will be for your own good, you're just not smart enough to recognise it.

"The “gun” his children told police about? A toy pistol that shoots foam darts, which police discovered during a search of his house. “The child had every belief it was real,” Thaler said. “The indication from the kids was that it was dad’s [gun].”

Sansone was finally released after four hours. He said he’s furious and that his name has been slandered. “So many people dealt with this situation in the wrong way,” he told the Sun. “I know the principal really well, how could he judge my character in this way? I drop off and pick the kids up every day, I always say hello, I sign every report card, I go to every parent teacher meeting, I am an active parent at that school.”

But the school, police and child welfare officials all stand by their actions, according to the Record. “From a public safety point of view, any child drawing a picture of guns and saying there’s guns in a home would warrant some further conversation with the parents and child,” said Alison Scott, executive director of Family and Children’s Services."